NJ chicken rules · Morris County
Can you keep chickens in Township of East Hanover, NJ?
East Hanover doesn't allow chickens as of right. Keeping them takes special written permission from the Township Department of Health, and zoning otherwise treats fowl as a farm use.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | Yes, with conditions |
| Hens | Not specified (keeping is by health-department permission only) |
| Roosters | Not specified |
| Permit | Required (special written permission of the Department of Health) |
| Coop setback | Not specified in the current sanitation code |
| Lot size | Not specified |
Good to know
- The 2025 sanitation code lists keeping chickens without Health Department permission as a prohibited nuisance.
- This is a discretionary, case-by-case permission, not a by-right allowance.
- This is East Hanover Township, distinct from Hanover Township.
Source: Township of East Hanover Code, Ch. 201 Sanitation (eCode360), § 201-2A(14) — view the ordinance
Verified 2026-09. Ordinances change and zoning can differ by district — always confirm the current rules with the Township of East Hanover clerk or zoning office before you build.
Building a coop in Township of East Hanover?
Triano Farms builds custom, predator-proof chicken coops on-site across MorrisCounty and all of New Jersey, sized to your flock and built to your town's rules.
New to this? Start with how to raise chickens in NJ, or what a coop costs.
Ready to keep your flock safe?
Tell us about your animals and your land. We'll design a coop built to last, on-site, just for you.